In a stunning courtroom revelation, the son of the notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán has admitted to orchestrating the abduction of his father's former cartel partner, detailing a brazen plot to deliver a rival to US authorities.
The Dramatic Abduction of 'El Mayo'
According to details shared in a federal court in Chicago on Monday, Joaquín Guzmán López, 39, pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking and running a continuing criminal enterprise. As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors outlined the extraordinary events leading to the capture of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada, the long-elusive leader of the Sinaloa cartel, in July 2024.
Andrew Erskine, an attorney for the US government, described how Guzmán López allegedly arranged a meeting with an unnamed individual—widely understood to be Zambada—on the outskirts of Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa state. Guzmán López had the glass removed from a floor-to-ceiling window beforehand, allowing armed men to enter, seize the target, place a bag over his head, and transport him to a waiting aircraft.
Zambada's own account, shared by his lawyer after his arrest, corroborates the ambush. He stated he had been called to a meeting with local politicians and Guzmán López, where he encountered armed men in green military uniforms. Despite leading a rival faction within the cartel, Zambada maintained communication with the "Chapitos"—El Chapo's sons—and followed Guzmán López into a dark room, where he was overpowered.
A Sedated Flight to US Custody
The plea hearing detailed the subsequent cross-border journey. Onboard the plane, the abducted capo was restrained with zip-ties and administered sedatives. Guzmán López's account noted he also drank a small amount of the drugged beverage. The aircraft then landed at an airport in New Mexico, near the Texas border, delivering Zambada directly into American hands.
Erskine stated the alleged kidnapping was an attempt by Guzmán López to demonstrate cooperation with Washington, but emphasised that US leaders did not sanction the actions. Consequently, Guzmán López will receive no cooperation credit for the abduction.
Political Fallout and Cartel Turmoil
The arrests triggered immediate diplomatic tension. Mexico's then-president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, was furious, suspecting US government involvement in the operation. Washington denied any role from the outset, though experts believed it improbable such a mission could succeed without some US knowledge.
In a significant development, Mexico's attorney general's office announced it was considering treason charges against Guzmán López or anyone else who aided the plot, rather than offering congratulations to the US.
The vacuum left by the captures ignited a bloody power struggle within the Sinaloa cartel. The ensuing violence between factions vying for control remains a major security challenge for López Obrador's successor, President Claudia Sheinbaum.
With his guilty plea, Guzmán López's defence attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, indicated his client is expected to avoid a life sentence. His father, Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán, is currently serving a life sentence in the US after his 2019 conviction for leading the Sinaloa cartel and smuggling vast quantities of drugs over a quarter of a century.
